B O O K S U N B A N N E D
The librarians of the year are five staff members on the “Books Unbanned” team at the Brooklyn Public Library.
They were recognized by Library Journal for creating “Books Unbanned” to reach readers in places where new restrictions might force books off library shelves and out of classrooms. “Books Unbanned” issues library cards that give electronic access to the Brooklyn library’s digital and audio collections. So far 6,000 teenagers have requested cards through “Books Unbanned” since the program began last spring.
Library Journal said “Books Unbanned” was “ambitious, broad in scope and held the potential to affect thousands of young readers” and had “proved successful far beyond their original hopes.”
“While ‘Books Unbanned’ was originally planned to run for a limited time, it has taken on a life of its own — one that continues to grow and change,” Library Journal wrote in announcing the choice. “Thanks to everyone involved, ‘Books Unbanned’ has been a success, with 52,000 checkouts to date.”
Nick Higgins, Amy Mikel, Karen Keys, Jackson Gomes, and Leigh Hurwitz
